Senna Dies at Imola: F1 Safety Revolution Follows
Ayrton Senna died at the Tamburello corner of the Imola circuit on May 1, 1994, after his Williams FW16's steering column broke at 191 mph, sending the car into a concrete wall. A suspension arm pierced his helmet visor. He was the third driver killed that weekend; Roland Ratzenberger had died in qualifying the day before, and Rubens Barrichello had survived a horrific crash during practice. Senna had won three World Championships and 41 races. His rivalry with Alain Prost defined an era. Brazil declared three days of national mourning, and an estimated three million people lined the streets of Sao Paulo for his funeral. The tragedies at Imola forced sweeping safety reforms in Formula One that have prevented a driver fatality in a race for over 30 years.
May 1, 1994
32 years ago
Key Figures & Places
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